The identity of the person killed has not been released, pending notification of next of kin.

The ferry was headed from Sausalito to San Francisco with about 500 people aboard when it collided with the motorboat about 4 p.m. There were four people aboard the smaller craft.

Golden Gate Transit spokeswoman Mary Currie said the motorboat was traveling at high speed when it collided with the MS San Francisco, which was about 10 minutes into its 30-minute trip from Sausalito to the Ferry Building in San Francisco. No one on the ferry was hurt.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report. Contact Rebecca Parr at 510-293-2473. Follow her at Twitter.com/rdparr1.